HL Deb 12 June 1902 vol 109 cc476-7
VISCOUNT CROSS

My Lords, I beg to ask His Majesty's Government whether it is intended to give legislative effect to the recommendations of the Joint Committee on Queen Anne's Bounty Board, and, meanwhile, whether any provisional appointment has been made to the joint office of Treasurer and Secretary of that Board.

THE LORD CHANCELLOR (the Earl of HALSBURY)

My Lords, in reply to the first part of the Question of my noble friend, I have to say that the Government have prepared a Bill, which will be almost immediately introduced, dealing with the question in pursuance of the recommendation of the Committee. With reference to the second part of the Question, they have found it possible to continue the work of the office without making such an appointment as that suggested. How that has been done I am not able to explain, but I am told there was no practical difficulty about it. The Bill which will be introduced will get rid of any difficulty in respect of the payment of proper dues. I wish to express my apology to my noble friend for not replying to the Question when it was asked upon a former occasion. It arose from a misunderstanding as to whose duty it was to answer the Question. I thought that the noble Marquess at the head of the Government was familiar with the facts and would answer it, but the attention of the noble Marquess had not been called to the matter. I hope the noble Viscount will accept my apology.

VISCOUNT CROSS

I am glad I have got an answer at last. I think the apology is due to your Lordships rather than to me, for if a Question is asked in proper form, and after due notice, on a matter of public business, we are entitled, I maintain, to have an answer from the Government. It so happened that a few days ago a similar Question was asked in another place, and an answer was given without the slightest hesitation, which made it very difficult to account for the solemn silence and mystery with which the Question was first received in this House.

LORD BARNARD

I only rise to say that last session I put a Question on the same subject and to the same effect, and received no answer. House adjourned at a quarter before Five o'clock, till Tomorrow, half-past Ten o'clock.